Alyssa Beaty, the camp ground attendant at Kiser Lake State Park unlocks one of the existing two cambins at the park Wednesday, June 14, 2017. The Department of Natural Resources has asked the Controlling Board for $367,757.15 in funds in order to build Sherman cabins in several state parks, one of which is Kiser Lake in St. Paris. Bill Lackey/Staff

Kiser Lake to see addition of two new log cabins

Kiser Lake State Park in Champaign County is set to receive new rustic log cabins by early spring of 2018.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources recently requested funds from the Controlling Board in order to purchase construction materials to construct and install wooden cabins in several state parks, including Kiser Lake.

“The addition will improve attendance to the lake,” Alyssa Beaty, campground attendant, said, adding that the cabins will be able to hold bigger families.

The two cabins will come about through a partnership between the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. The cabins are made from hardwood cut from Ohio state forests and are assembled by state prisoners.

The partnership between the two departments began last year.

They’re called Sherman Cabins after Camp Sherman, an Ohio Army National Guard training site near a Chillicothe prison.

The two new Sherman Cabins are expected to be available to the public by May 2018.

The state will install the log cabins in eight other state parks — Alum Creek located in Delaware County; Barkcamp in Belmont County; Beaver Creek in Columbiana County; East Harbor in Ottawa County; Hocking Hills in Hocking County; Kelleys Island in Ottawa County; Mohican in Ashland County; and Tarr Hollow in Ross County.